Tanner Street Oil Spill Remediation Concluded
A July spill at a former Lowell generating station prompted state environmental review ahead of rezoning talks.
Updated on Oct. 8, 2026 in Data Centers
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On July 1, 2026, 75 gallons of lubricating oil spilled at 2 Tanner Street in Lowell after a storage tank tipped during demolition. The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection issued a Permanent Solution Statement for the site on August 31, 2026.
Why it matters
The site of the former Tanner Street Generating Station sits in a critical development corridor near a Superfund location. Its remediation serves as a background factor for upcoming city deliberations on zoning regulations for future data center projects.
Remediation involved the removal of 75 gallons of oil via Clean Harbors Environmental Services. Personnel utilized spill kits, absorbent materials, and soil excavation to clear the site, which was verified in a 70-page Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection report.
The players
Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection
The state agency responsible for managing environmental impact, air quality, and site remediation standards.
Clean Harbors Environmental Services
A hazardous waste management company specializing in large-scale environmental remediation and industrial spill response.
Silresim Chemical Corporation
The site of a former hazardous waste facility now designated as a Superfund location requiring long-term federal oversight.
The details
The spill occurred when a storage tank tipped during demolition work at the former Tanner Street Generating Station. Clean Harbors Environmental Services—a waste management and emergency response firm—executed the cleanup, which included source control, pavement cleaning, and soil excavation. The site assessment confirmed there are no private drinking water wells within 500 feet of the spill area, which is situated near the 4-acre Silresim Chemical Corporation Superfund site.
Timeline
July 1, 2026: An oil spill occurred at 2 Tanner Street.
August 31, 2026: The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection issued a Permanent Solution Statement.
October 7, 2026: The Board of Health conducted a meeting.
October 2026: The Department of Planning and Development presents data center zoning options.
January 2027: The City Council is scheduled to hold a final vote on the data center zoning ordinance.
The Tech Race
The remediation at Tanner Street occurs as the city evaluates its footprint for future high-density infrastructure. This cleanup provides a baseline for local authorities as they weigh a 360-day data center moratorium and proposed size limits of 15 megawatts.
Residents near the Ayer's City Industrial Park District can view the state's official findings regarding site safety in the 70-page DEP report. The outcome of the upcoming zoning discussions in early 2027 will determine the types of industrial activity permitted on the Tanner Street corridor.
The takeaway
The successful remediation of the Tanner Street site closes the environmental chapter on the former generating station. Residents should watch the City Council's January 2027 vote, which will establish the final size limits and regulatory framework for data center development in Lowell.
What happens next
The Lowell Department of Planning and Development will present data center zoning options to the City Council later this month. Following these presentations, the Council is slated to consider a formal Data Center Ordinance between late October and early November 2026, with a final vote projected for January 2027.
Further reading
For more on how infrastructure projects are shaping local policy, visit Data Centers.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Lowell Sun.
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